Best Rug Pads for Laminate Floors 2020 – Reviews & Buyers Guide
When it comes to making your house a home, nothing does a better job than rugs. Rugs take your empty house and transform into a bright, lively place where you can show off your individual style. But if you have laminate flooring, you may think that rugs aren’t a good fit for your home, or that maybe rug pads can damage laminate flooring.
This isn’t the case at all! Rug pads are gentle and not an adhesive, so you don’t have to worry about the laminate flooring that is under them. They also don’t scratch or mark your flooring, leaving it as good as new. So, if you are wanting to fill your home with rugs and want to make sure you don’t slip and slide everywhere. Here are the best rug pads for laminate floors on the market. We have used, tested and reviewed them for you, so you don’t have to guess when you are making a purchase.
Our Top Rug Pads For Laminate Floors Comparison
Product Image | Name | Dimension (inch) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
  | Gorilla Grip Original Area Rug Gripper Pad | 11.8 x 9.2 x 0.7 | |
  | Mohawk Home Brown Felt Rubber All Surface Non-Slip Rug Pad | 96 x 24 x 0.25 | |
  | RUGPADUSA Basics Protective Cushioning Rug Pad | 168 x 120 x 0.25 | |
  | Veken Non-Slip Rug Pad Gripper | 14.68 x 12.75 x 5.86 | |
  | Non Slip Rug Gripper Pads | 9 x 6 x 0.25 |
5 Best Rug Pads for Laminate Floors Reviews
1. Gorilla Grip Original Area Rug Gripper Pad
Gorilla grip is a well-known brand and for good reason. They are excellent manufactures of glue and other products. This skill has translated well over to rug pads. The gorilla grip rug pads are a none adhesive solution to the problem. These pads won’t mark your floor as they don’t use glue, so if you want to change the position of your rug it is as easy as picking it up and moving it.
What we really liked about the gorilla grip rug pads is that they don’t damage your rug. As they are designed in a crisscross sheet, your rug is still able to breathe and get air. This is especially important if you have a natural fibre rug. These rug pads are super easy to fit, simply lay it across the back of the rug and cut off any excess!
One of the draw backs to these rug grips is that when you mop your floor, you will have to leave the floor to fully dry before you replace the rug. If you don’t you will find that the rug will slip and move under foot. This will pose a risk to you and your children.
Pros
- Doesn’t damage or mark laminate flooring
- Strong grip
- Good for natural fibre rugs
- Easy to fit
- Easy to adjust to size
Cons
- Cannot replace rug on a wet floor
- The edges of the pad may not be cut in a straight line
2. Mohawk Home Brown Felt Rubber All Surface Non-Slip Rug Pad
The Mohawk have a more traditional stance to protecting your laminate floor and keeping your rug in place. The brown felt and rubber rug pad is ideal for someone who doesn’t want all rubber grippers directly on their floor. You can fit the rug pad in a matter of seconds and if the pad is too big it is very easy to cut.
When you get the pad, you may find that you need to lay it flat for a while before you use it. This is because if you lay a rug straight onto it, it may curl. So this pad would be better for heavier rugs. It will keep your rugs in good condition, but not as well ventilated as a crisscross gripper, so if you have a natural rug, make sure you shake it our regularly.
It is advised that when you mop your floor, before you replace the rug you wait for the floor to dry. This is because if the floor is too wet and it gets the felt wet, it may start smelling and damage your rug. So make sure you are careful not to drop liquids on it.
Pros
- Light weight
- Easy to fit
- Easy to cut to size without any tools
- Feels nice underfoot
- Doesn’t mark laminate flooring
Cons
- Not ideal for thin rugs
- If it gets wet it can start to smell
3. RUGPADUSA Basics Protective Cushioning Rug Pad
The Rugpadusa is one of the more luxurious options on the market. You can pick between two types of thickness, if you have a thick rug, we recommended going for the denser option. Not only does it feel amazingly soft under foot, it will also hold down the corners of thicker rugs that have the propensity to roll.
The Rug Pad is safe for whatever type of laminate flooring you have. You won’t see any marks when you lift and move the mat, which makes it ideal if you want to change round your rugs regularly. If you mop, make sure you don’t get them wet as they can be damaged by water.
There are an array of sizes that you can buy, but if there isn’t a size that fits yours don’t worry. Order bigger than you need to, then all you need to do is take a pair of scissors and cut it down. This is easy to do, so don’t worry.
Pros
- Lightweight and breathable
- Ideal for larger heavier rugs
- Easy to cut down
- Luxurious feel
- Stops corners rolling
Cons
- Must remain dry at all times
- Still may slip slightly
4. Veken Non-Slip Rug Pad Gripper
If you have a house full of lively children and hyper animals, you want to know that your rug will stay put. Not only is this good your laminate flooring, it keeps your family and your pets safe. The Veken rug pad is a very grippy pad that makes sure your rug stays put, but fundamentally it doesn’t damage your laminate flooring.
What we really liked about these rug pads is how easy they are to install. You simply put it down and then grab your rug and lay it on top. If it doesn’t fit straight out of the box, don’t worry. This is easy to solve by cutting the excess off with scissors.
Some rug pads don’t hold up very well when they are being vacuumed, but these do, so you don’t need to take them outside and bang them in order to clean them. They really do make day to day living with rugs on laminate flooring far easier.
Pros
- Keeps your rug in place
- Easy to vacuum
- You can adjust
- Ideal for an active household
- Lets air flow through the rug
Cons
- Can smell chemically
- Can mark laminate flooring if you put it down when wet
5. Non Slip Rug Gripper Pads
If you have awkward sized rugs or simply don’t want to deal with an entire rug pad, then you can use corner tags. They are super easy to install and you don’t need to worry about cutting anything to size. Simply peal and go.
One of the best things about these products is that because they tape directly to the corners, you can put your rug close to the doors and not worry about the door picking them up and curling them. You can also run a vacuum over them and be sure that they won’t move.
If you don’t want to have to deal with airing your rugs out, then these will make sure that you don’t need to. You also don’t need to be too concerned about the rug wet. Unlike other rug grippers, they don’t mind being wet and wont mark your floor if they are.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Easy to cut
- Ideal for bigger or odd sized rugs
- Will stop the rug getting stuck under the door
- Won’t mark your floor
Cons
- Not as good as others if you have an active house
- The middle of the rug isn’t held down
Why Do You Need Rug Pads For Laminate Floors?
There are so many reasons why you might want rug pads, but here are our top three.
High Traffic Areas
Not only do rugs make your home more inviting, they can also help to limit the damage to them in high traffic areas. But if you were to put a rug straight onto the high traffic area, the rug can then make the entire floor become an ice rink. This is where rug pads come in. The rug keeps dirt and grime off the floor and will stop any scuffs or damage. The rug pad makes sure that the rug stays put.
Safety
If you have children and animals running around your house, a rug can be a nightmare. Rugs get bunched up, especially with children running over them. Rug pads will stop this bunching up and reduce the chances of your child tripping over. It will also stop them from sliding when they run across it.
Protection
Laminate flooring is one of the most versatile floors out there, it is also hard wearing and can take the day to day impact of family life. With so many people walking around and forgetting to take their shoes off, the floor can get damaged. By having rug pads, you can put down a rug and look after your floor.
The Ultimate Buyer Guide For Rug Pads For Laminate Floors
Here are the key things to think about before you settle on your rug pads.
Vacuuming
Have you ever tried to vacuum a thinner, lighter rug without rug pads? It can be a nightmare, to the point where you give up and take the rug outside to beat it. By adding rug pads, you are temporarily sticking two surfaces together. The increased friction reduces the movement of the rug, even when you are vacuuming. So no more having to take the rug outside. If you use a vacuum, then you want either a strong gripper system or a system that holds down the corners.
Natural Fibres
If you have a natural fibre rug, you will want a crisscross system that allows your rug to breathe. Natural fibre rugs need to be able to have clean air move through them otherwise they can become mouldy and they can smell. By having a crisscross system, you are making sure that your rug stays in top shape.
Placement
Depending on where you keep your rug will depend on what type of pads you need. If you are wanting to have your rug near a door, then chose the corner pads option. These will keep all of your corners in place and make sure the door doesn’t pick them up. If you want to have your rug as an entrance piece, why not get a thick felt pad? Not only does this feel amazing under foot, it will also keep your rug firmly in place.
Cleaning
When you clean your laminate flooring you will need to make sure that it is fully dry before you put the rug back down. If you are opting for the felt option, this is because the felt can rot and smell when it doesn’t dry properly. If you are opting for a rubber option, placing this on your laminate flooring can mark your laminate.
Final Thoughts
Before you settle on your rug pads, have a think about what type of rugs you have or want to buy. If you are opting for natural fibre options, then you want to make sure that your rug is able to breathe. If you have a busy, lively house, then you want the best grip that you can get, without damaging your floors. A lattice type system will be the best option for you as it will keep your rug firmly in place, even when kids are running over it. Once you have made these considerations, you will be better placed to choose which rug pads suit your needs and that of your household.
